This is a game about smashing up artwork with a big rock, and there's nothing wrong with that. [Holiday 2011, p.79]

A technically excellent educational game, but dry for all but maths enthusiasts.

The game's wonky art assets and cursory narrative trimming feel like placeholders, but take it as a no-frills Portal mod pack and there are ideas here worth winding your brain around--building blocks of a development talent almost as impressive as the game it apes. [Apr 2012, p.81]

A must-own for Worms virgins, less important for all but the most devoted Worms fans. [June 2001, p.74]

Despite being a smart progression of Blood Money's ideas, Hitman feels unrefined and unfinished in lots of small but important ways.

An elaborate horror setting with plenty of effective scares – but not quite enough to last the entire game.

Definitely a kids' arcade game with the extreme simplicity of a console title, Shrek 2 offers enough comic mischief to make children love the big green guy all over again. [July 2004, p.58]

A hardcore team game that's fun when you work together, despite some unfriendly systems.

OUTATIME corrects many of the past four episodes' weaknesses with plentiful locations, a strong script, and a fulfilling conclusion to what has been an upsettingly lackluster series. [Oct 2011, p.77]

Four gigabytes of music and cinematics is a clear sign of self-indulgent game design..., but Aerial Strike ultimately lasers all this extra blubber to deliver a compelling sci-fi shoot-'em up. [May 2005, p.60]

Squanch's FPS sequel has more creativity in its left shoe than most entire games, but High on Life 2 falls short of excellence.

A fun game that gets fatally sidetracked. I coulda been a contender. [Mar 2001, p.96]

A rich content upgrade that'll please masochistic vets looking for the equivalent of Hercules' 12 labors. [Feb 2005, p.62]

A frenetic, eye-pleasing simulation of theme-park building. [Apr 2001, p.80]

For The King 2 is surprisingly one of the most tactically challenging games of 2023, but suffers from being a bit too much of the same next to the previous monarch.

​Double Fine’s Massive Chalice takes XCOM’s DNA in a fresh direction, but doesn’t exceed it.

When played against three other human rivals, this game rocks! [Dec 2002, p.110]

Gravity Ghost hits the notes of big-budget platformers on a smaller scale; its story fumbles along the way, but it's short and sweet.

There still isn't any game on the market quite like Farming Simulator, but the series is overdue for a gameplay makeover.

Anno 2070 is a polished management sim with some innovative ideas, but it doesn't push them far enough.

Colorado isn't the most visually appealing or intricate level in Hitman. But it provides some much needed variety—a change of scenery and challenge that rounds out the Hitman experience. It feels as if IO has spent most of this season demonstrating that it can still get Hitman right. It's nice to see they're now confident enough to move away from the template they've created.

Darkest Dungeon 2 is a challenging yet fun roguelite experience, even if it does sacrifice some of what made the original great.

Simulation purists will have issues with the game's "faked" vehicle physics, overly forgiving damage model, and rigidly structured Career mode, but ToCA Race Driver 2 offers more than enough high-speed thrills to rope in even the most demanding PC racing fans. [July 2004, p.71]

What it lacks in charm, Temtem makes up for with mechanical depth and involved multiplayer.

Ashes of the Singularity delivers thoughtful real-time strategy with tons of units in play, but drab maps and a poor story.

Aside from some frustrating quirks and unrefined space missions, Breed is a good shooter that offers "Halo" fans a veritable add-on pack. [May 2004, p.72]

The scope is ultimately limited, but what a roaring spectacle of broken car bits Wreckfest manages.

The level of freedom afforded is quite unparalleled for a game of this type. [Apr 2004, p.72]

Although Madden NFL 08 isn't all that it could be, especially in light of the console omissions, it plays an intelligent game of football. [Dec 2007, p.62]

A slap of pain tand an extra dimension can't hide the threadbare plot and archaic gameplay mechanics lurking beneath the surface. [July 2002, p.68]

Insomniac's Spider-Man is as loveable as ever, even if the surrounding game can't quite live up to him.

It's a Tiller design that hits all the notes you expect from his workshop. [Dec 2004, p.102]

A sometimes tricky RPG with gorgeous art that's perfect for co-op.

A suspenseful yet forgiving turn-based tactics game that lets you play a part in shaping history.

Chinatown Detective Agency is a solid hardboiled detective adventure with a unique DIY approach to clue-solving—but it’s most impressive as a cultural artefact.

A surprisingly engaging shooter that manages to turn what could have been another routine FPS into a rousing costume saga with a genuine feeling of epic sweep. [July 2004, p.64]

Lots of flash, low substance. Try "Freespace" or "Tachyon" for a more fulfilling experience. [July 2000, p.84]

DeathSpank is Diablo meets Monkey Island, but it fails to achieve the fun of the former or the humor of the latter. [Jan 2011, p.76]

Thrilling night races make Heat the best Need for Speed in years, even if I want to batter every one of its racers.

An intricately detailed RTS, Men of War: Assault Squad 2 is packed with features and refuses to tell you how to use them.

Not for the easily frustrated, but unique enough to attract serious FPS fans. [Jan 2003, p.116]

A decent interactive shooting gallery at a bargain price. [June 2001, p.56]

Refreshing tactical changes and some of the best maps in the series make this an experiment worth checking out.

Fun and deceptively simple, Joe Danger will have you laughing at the ridiculous ways you can fail(or succeed). [Oct 2013, p.69]

Thrillville is family friendly enough for younger gamers, but has enough creative content to entertain your inner child. [Mar 2008, p.72]

Though the game’s not as detailed as many hardcore simmers might expect, the ability to man each of these stations does a lot to impart the feel of driving a sub. [Feb 2002, p.71]

Madden 19 offers a fascinating single-player story, but the rest of the game largely falls into the same tropes you experienced a decade ago.

Starfield shares plenty of DNA with Skyrim and Fallout 4, but ultimately falls short of both.

Cyber Shadow isn't the peak of the genre, but it's a shuriken's throw away.

In context, the conclusion causes more of a ripple than a splash. [Aug 2007, p.70]

A good find for Star Wars fans who don't take the license too seriously. [July 2005, p.72]

Like a board game you play to death then put on the shelf to bring out on special occasions, but with street urchins and priest-stabbing.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon puts an interesting spin on Arthurian legend and presents a competent world that plays like a love letter to the open-world first-person RPG genre.

An all-time favorite takes a forward step in its second life as a 3D series. [Jan 2001, p.153]

Though not particularly memorable, Saints Row 2's huge volume of quests and goofy side missions make it one of the better open-world crime games available, but the PC port's technical scars drag it down. [Mar 2009, p.70]

Yara is super lush and wonderful to explore, but the story and main villain are predictable.

Its innovation definitely injects a shot of adrenaline into a genre that desperately needed it. [June 2003, p.78]

There's much less game in Tape 2, but a strong narrative conclusion is worth seeing. It won't take long, either.

Viking doesn't have all the enhancements I would've liked, but its new gameplay mechanic is refreshing, and Medieval fans will definitely enjoy it. [Aug 2003, p.60]

A great repository of nostalgia-heavy stories, but it doesn’t make the most of being an MMO.

But in spite of its repetitive gameplay, Age of Pirates offers Akella's most polished pirating excursion yet, and its introduction of a multiplayer mode, which allows you and up to 15 of your mateys to duke it out on the high seas, adds even more value to a solid sandbox game. [Dec. 2006, p.98]

Over quickly and hardly exhilarating, but illuminating in a way games rarely bother to be.

ProStreet delivers a deeply enjoyable ride, but it would have been considerably more rewarding without the restrained(and ultimately compromised)physics. [Feb 2008, p.74]

The "Top Gun" of online aerial-combat sims -- but a so-so offline experience. [Holiday 2002, p.82]

It’s not going to rock anyone’s world, but for a cheap TV tie-in it’s a lot more engaging than it has any right to be, serving as a pleasant opportunity for any series fan to spend a few more hours in Gelfling company.

Does a tremendous job of reproducing the excitement and wheel-to-wheel action of radio-controlled race-car competition. [Nov 2002, p.126]

Following a series high last year, F1 2018’s welcome additions don’t add up to a meaningfully fresh experience.

Gives PC bike-racing fans a welcome and all-too-rare outlet for some mindless two-wheeled hijinks. [Feb 2005, p.74]

A serious display of sci-fi storytelling talent, even if the production falls short of space age.

Minecraft Dungeons is a breezy dungeon crawler that reproduces Minecraft's playful attitude.

A welcome refresh of a hack-and-slash mainstay that mostly impresses, despite a few glaring pacing problems.

A pleasant mix of gentle puzzling and body horror, PHOGS! is a very good boy.

It's not quite the Serious Sam that you've known and love, although there are plenty of great moments. [Holiday 2005, p.76]

It's amazing what you can do with quick reactions and a restart button. [Sept 2007, p.56]

For better or worse, this is a classic hex wargame with updated graphics.

A moreish snack, You Must Build A Boat is whimsical enough to make you forget how efficiently it's sapping your attention.

A fun, if lightweight, stealth combat game. The turn-based fighting isn't perfect, but remains entertaining enough to be worth a look.

Titanium Court is a brilliantly singular roguelite with a surplus of style, but you're going to need to love match-three to want to stick around.

Interesting classes, engaging melee gameplay, and an exciting arena mode have the wind taken out of their sails by deserted servers.

An efficient and well-designed galactic fighter. [March 2005, p.75]

What Infinity Nikki lacks in difficulty, it makes up for with a gorgeous wardrobe and charmingly scenic world I can't stop poking around.

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is a surprisingly satisfying romp through Hell, as long as you plug your ears.

Overwatch 2 revitalizes the stagnant hero shooter, but misunderstands what made it great.

Making History may not be the deepest historical epic out there, but it is one of the most playable and a good way to whet your appetite for something more filling. [Aug 2007, p.66]

Ultimately, while the additions to the core game and Aurora toolset will offer more potential to module-makers, and the new classes do provide replayability options, we'll need a bit more oomph to take notice of the next expansion. [Sept 2003, p.96]

It's old fashioned, but I find it quite compelling that it's a game that knows exactly what it wants to be. Sniper Elite has felt like the heir apparent to the stealth genre for a while now, and Resistance further solidifies that, a generous helping of sneaky action that's only slightly less impressive because it's retreading the same path Sniper Elite 5 already took in 2022.

Killing Floor 3 is fun, quick to pick up, and builds on what worked for its predecessors. And while there'll always be a place for gory multiplayer shooters, they are a dime a dozen, and this one doesn't do a lot to stand out from the rest.

Overall, this is a game we recommend to any fan of collectible trading card games(or Marvel super heroes, for that matter). [Nov 2007, p.76]

Despite being only a minor advance, this is certainly the definitive version of Icewind Dale. That itself is a fun, tough quest that brings back nostalgia for the beauty of the engine and combat system of those days. That makes it a nice stopgap between here and Eternity.

A better Warhammer game than the last few.

Our advice: check out the game, skip the movie. [Mar 2006, p.102]

Infernal isn't offering anything really new, but if you're just out to have a good time doing the devil's dirty work, blasting through legions of soldiers and using gadgets like some kind of demonic James Bond, then you'll find it to be a good use of your time. [June 2007, p.62]

Outside of the fighting, however, For Honor is a needlessly bloated game. There’s a lot of tediously granular customisation, a tacky free-to-play-style storefront selling in-game currency for real-world money, and a tangle of ugly, confusing menus to wrestle through before you can get into a battle. And as time goes on, and those stalwart, hardcore players continue to hone their skills, it’ll be even more unwelcoming to newcomers. Stick with it, though, and you’ll find a rich, tactical fighting game with wonderfully weighty combat and hidden depths to uncover. But if you want something accessible you can easily dip in and out of, you may want to swear fealty to another lord.

Ostfront offers just a single, limiting game mode. [Jun 2006, p.46]

Suffers in comparison to Yakuza 0, but is still a compelling drama and an important part of the series as a whole.

A solid survival game vastly improved by putting the focus on people, not zombies.

Demanding but excellent combat and gorgeous visuals sit awkwardly in a half-baked roguelike structure.

Medieval dynasty is a fun, relaxing survival RPG, even if it's not always exciting.